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Fear of Fireworks Puts Sam in Tight Squeeze

Nov 26, 2009

Sam and his family

A seven year old Staffie called Sam was so terrified by fireworks in neighbouring houses that he ended up jammed behind the toilet in his owner’s house in a desperate bid to find somewhere to hide.
The dog, owned by Samantha Lawrence and her family from Newhaven, was trapped for several hours and Samantha was taking advice from the fire brigade over the phone when her partner finally managed to move the toilet to release him.   A week on Sam is still being medicated by his vet to help him cope with trauma caused by the noise from fireworks which continued long after Bonfire Night itself.
Commenting on Sam’s ordeal, Samantha says:  “Sam has always been frightened by fireworks and I’d tried to get home early on Bonfire Night to make sure he was OK.  Unfortunately I got delayed and, as soon as the fireworks started, he tried to find somewhere to hide.  When I got home I found him wedged behind the toilet with his head on the seat.
“At first we couldn’t tell whether he was just refusing to come out or was actually stuck but we tried everything to get him out, including offering him a can of tuna – his favourite treat! – and covering him with baby oil in case it helped to free him.
“Four hours later he was still there and in increasing distress.   I contacted the police who put me in touch with the Fire Brigade.  They were so helpful but, luckily, my partner finally managed to move the toilet and Sam shot out and ate the whole tin of tuna.”
“After that he went straight to sleep and he slept most of the next day too.  He just wasn’t himself.“  Samantha took Sam to vet Karen Scott at Pet Doctors in Seaford.   She confirmed that he was obviously deeply traumatised by the fireworks and prescribed medicine to help him sleep and pheromone diffusers for Sam’s house to help him relax.  A week on, he is obviously still frightened, says Sam, but seems to be getting a bit better.
Vet Karen Scott says:  “While Sam’s fear of fireworks is extreme, many of our pets are distressed by the noise, a problem that is made worse because the fireworks season is getting longer and longer.   We ask all those letting off fireworks to show consideration for the animals living around them.   There are some helpful steps that owners can take to protect their pets too with plenty of advice freely available from local vet practices and animal charities. 
“Sam’s story is particularly sad but I hope firework fans and pet owners will learn from it and try to make next year’s celebrations less traumatic for our pets.”
Samantha added:  “Poor Sam has gone through a dreadful ordeal and it’s also been tough for my children seeing him so distressed.   We’re hoping for a quieter few weeks now to give him a chance to fully recover.”

 

A seven year old Staffie called Sam was so terrified by fireworks in neighbouring houses that he ended up jammed behind the toilet in his owner’s house in a desperate bid to find somewhere to hide.

The dog, owned by Samantha Lawrence and her family from Newhaven, was trapped for several hours and Samantha was taking advice from the fire brigade over the phone when her partner finally managed to move the toilet to release him.   A week after Sam was still being medicated by his vet to help him cope with trauma caused by the noise from fireworks which continued long after Bonfire Night itself.

Commenting on Sam’s ordeal, Samantha says:  “Sam has always been frightened by fireworks and I’d tried to get home early on Bonfire Night to make sure he was OK.  Unfortunately I got delayed and, as soon as the fireworks started, he tried to find somewhere to hide.  When I got home I found him wedged behind the toilet with his head on the seat.

“At first we couldn’t tell whether he was just refusing to come out or was actually stuck but we tried everything to get him out, including offering him a can of tuna – his favourite treat! – and covering him with baby oil in case it helped to free him.

“Four hours later he was still there and in increasing distress.   I contacted the police who put me in touch with the Fire Brigade.  They were so helpful but, luckily, my partner finally managed to move the toilet and Sam shot out and ate the whole tin of tuna.”

“After that he went straight to sleep and he slept most of the next day too.  He just wasn’t himself.“  Samantha took Sam to vet Karen Scott at Pet Doctors in Seaford.   She confirmed that he was obviously deeply traumatised by the fireworks and prescribed medicine to help him sleep and pheromone diffusers for Sam’s house to help him relax.  He is obviously still frightened, says Sam, but seems to be getting a bit better.

Vet Karen Scott says:  “While Sam’s fear of fireworks is extreme, many of our pets are distressed by the noise, a problem that is made worse because the fireworks season is getting longer and longer.   We ask all those letting off fireworks to show consideration for the animals living around them.   There are some helpful steps that owners can take to protect their pets too with plenty of advice freely available from local vet practices and animal charities. 

“Sam’s story is particularly sad but I hope firework fans and pet owners will learn from it and try to make next year’s celebrations less traumatic for our pets.”

Samantha added:  “Poor Sam has gone through a dreadful ordeal and it’s also been tough for my children seeing him so distressed. We’re hoping for a quieter few weeks now to give him a chance to fully recover.”

 

 

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